Murder at Thumb Butte (29 page)

“
What’s in these that makes them special?”

“
Stories on Edison an’ his marvelous inventions. Just the thing to whet the appetite of local investors.”

I perused them quickly. “These are reprints from eastern newspapers.” I let them drop against my leg. “Could be innocent. Papers do that all the time.”

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Read them.”

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I’ll take them with me and read them later. What’s significant?”

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All four stories mention the Edison Electric Light Company.”

I bounced away from the wall I had been leaning against. “How prominent?”

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Inside page, closing paragraph. But a discernin’ reader might pick it up.”

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And that discerning reader might ask Campbell about the difference in names.” I paced back and forth along the corridor wall. “Jeff, I don’t think this means anything. Campbell was good at swindling. He’d create some cock-and-bull story about two companies, but he’d say the Illumination Company owned the prize inventions. If we concentrate on this, we’ll just muddy up your defense. Blanchet is the murderer, and he did it for money, not a stock certificate.”

“
A Pinkerton might put things together. Don’t underestimate the Schmidts.”

I paced some more. “I don’t want to underestimate McAllen’s instincts either. He’s satisfied with Carl’s story. Why are you dubious about Blanchet?”

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Wishful thinkin’, I suppose. Not particularly comfortable with the murderer prosecutin’ me. But … Blanchet partnered up with Campbell. He sold Campbell that old barn to disguise his cut from the swindles. Those letters Mary found prove he also worked for the Winslows. An’ he’s an escaped prisoner. Don’t look good for him. Just hope Castle knows what he’s doin’. By the way, ya searched that barn, didn’t ya?”

I was stunned. I thought I had searched everywhere for that damn document, and it never occurred to me to search the barn and grounds. How stupid could I be? Where would I put it if I were hiding it out there? It would have to be someplace safe from the elements. Inside the barn would be risky because young people supposedly rendezvoused out there. I’d wrap it in oil cloth and bury it deep in an area of the barn that still had a good roof. I’d also make sure there was good water drainage in case a downpour seeped into the barn.

“
Steve?”

“
Yes.”

“
The barn?”

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I forgot. I’ve got to go. I’m sorry, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I rushed out as Sharp yelled after me, “Hell, Steve, do I gotta do all the thinkin’ for ya?”

It was embarrassing enough, but what if I actually found the certificate? Then Sharp would never let me forget how dumb I had been. As I scrambled out of the courthouse, a thought struck me: What if Blanchet weren’t done hiring assassins? Everything in Prescott surrounded the courthouse square, so Mrs. Cunningham’s was just across the street. I decided I wanted my rifle with me when I walked to the abandoned barn. A six-shooter is fine for close work, but for distances of more than a few yards, I preferred my Winchester ’76.

When I came through the front door, the house was still. Mrs. Cunningham was probably doing the shopping for the day’s meals. I was thinking hard as I climbed the stairs. The trial was less than two days away. Blanchet had to be busy getting ready. My guess was that he probably hadn’t hired any more bad men. Besides, the Cody episode made us waste time in Wickenburg, which, for Blanchet, was almost as good as if they had killed us. Despite my reasoning, I still wanted my rifle with me as I walked along a road that would take me into the woods.

I threw open my door and was so shocked I couldn’t move or speak. There was a couple on my bed. Finally, I regained my senses.

“
Maggie!”

_{Chapter 43}

Maggie and John were sitting on my bed—fully clothed, thankfully. But they had been kissing, and John’s cupped hand had jerked away from Maggie. My first response was anger, not at the invasion of my room but at Maggie’s putting me in this position. She had no right to make it difficult for me with her father. Damn it. I knew this was natural, but it was something for a parent to deal with, not me. Should I tell McAllen? What would I want if I were a parent?

“
John, get out of here.”

Both kids jumped to their feet.

“
No!” Maggie yelled. “You can’t make him leave. We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

“
Perhaps he’d like to tell his mother that I want my rent back for the day because he used my room without my permission.”

That did it. He literally ran out of the room. I gently closed the door after he left. Maggie sat back on the bed and jutted out her lower lip. This whole situation had me bamboozled. I didn’t want to be complicit in a deceit with Maggie, and I sure didn’t want to be the messenger of this type of news to McAllen. He might be more mature and worldly than me, but this was far too close to home. How would he handle discovering them together? I had no idea. Which meant I had no idea how I should handle it. I wasn’t a parent and didn’t know how to be one. An odd thought struck me. If I got married and had a baby right away, I’d be as old as McAllen by the time my kid was fifteen. I was thirty-one. Did I need to start thinking about this? I pushed the thought from my mind and sat on the bed next to Maggie.

“
What do you think I should do?”

She didn’t answer.

“
Maggie?”

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I don’t know.”

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Your father is a friend of mine. You’ve put me in an awkward position. If I tattle, I’ll make an enemy of you and suffer your father’s wrath for being the bearer of bad news. If I don’t tell, you’ll take advantage of me in the future.”

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I won’t.”

“
You will. Perhaps I should tell both John and Jonathon to stay away from you or I’ll kill them.”

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That’s not the same thing! Mr. Winslow doesn’t care a whit for me. He’s old, and he wants to do vile things. John and I were just kissing. It wasn’t going any further.”

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I’m sorry, you’re right. It’s not the same thing. Thank you for telling me about Mr. Winslow. I can assure you he’ll never bother you again. I should tell you, however, that I did not kill him.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was not an appropriate time for humor. The problem was that I didn’t know what to say or do. I was still trying to make up my mind when Maggie said something that shocked me.

“
I want to go further, but I won’t. I’m not sure I’m ready.” She looked at me with pleading eyes. “It’s hard living in the room next to the Schmidts. Mary is so loud. I know what it’s about; I just want to feel what it’s about.”

This conversation was getting uncomfortable for me. Was I the only man she could talk to? McAllen was too off-putting and her stepfather was a fire-and-brimstone preacher. She spent a lot of time on the ranch of her uncle and aunt, but I had never met them. What about her mother? That’s who she should be talking to: someone of the same sex who could give her advice based on similar experience. How did I get into this situation? How much responsibility did I have because I threw a door open at an inappropriate moment?

“
Listen, I’m no good at this, but I’m the only one in the room, so I guess I’m the one who’s got to talk to you. The Schmidts are different. They’re married. That’s what husbands and wives do. At your age, it will only get you in trouble. I remember you told me you would never get pregnant and need to get married because you were a McAllen. I liked that, and you should always remember it.”

“
I wasn’t going to get pregnant. Do you think every time a girl kisses a boy, she’s telling him that whatever else he wants to do is okay? I can take care of myself in that regard. And for your information, Mary still made her noises when Carl was out of town.”

Her retort was so angry that I actually moved an inch away from her. Obviously, I was no good at fatherly advice. Then I stopped. What did she say? Mary still made her noises? Was Mary unfaithful? If she was, it was none of my business. But still, I wanted to know.

“
Maggie, when Carl was out of town, what noises did Mary make?”

Now she pouted. “I don’t want to talk about this any longer. You know what kind of noises.”

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And Carl was gone?”

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Yes! He was gone. Gone to that Wickenburg place. It made Mary furious. She’d stomp around for hours and then disappear and come back with a man. I don’t want to talk about this.”

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Then we won’t. I’m sorry you had to experience that.” I stood up and faced Maggie. “I’ve decided what I’m going to do about you and John.”

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What?” There was a hint of fear.

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Nothing.”

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Nothing?” Now hope.

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That’s right. I’m going to do nothing. I won’t talk to your pa, and I won’t mention it to Mrs. Cunningham.” I watched a smile appear on her face for the briefest second, but she quickly changed her expression to show seriousness. “However, if I ever catch you like that again or catch you lying about John or any other boy, I will immediately tell your pa, and I’ll write your stepfather as well. You know he will keep you close to home in Durango. You won’t be visiting your aunt on her ranch, so you won’t get to see or ride your horse.” The smile was completely gone. “Do you understand?”

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Yes, sir.” She sounded sincere and a little bit frightened.

“
Okay, come on, we’re going treasure hunting at that old barn. First, we’re going to Hill Hardware to buy two shovels, and then we’re walking to the barn. Hurry. We’ve got to get back to meet your pa at Mrs. Potter’s.”

Maggie beamed as she jumped off the bed, obviously relieved to change the subject and get out of my room. I had no idea whether I had handled the situation correctly. Maggie was headstrong. I didn’t want to punish her, nor was it my place. I just wanted to change her behavior—at least until we went our separate ways again.

Since she was happy, or at least relieved, I hated to spoil it. Unfortunately, I had one more question. Just before I opened the door, I said, “Maggie, do you know who the man was who visited Mary when Carl was away?”

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Please, Mr. Dancy. I don’t want to talk about it. I wish I had never told you.” She looked embarrassed.

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It’s important.”

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If I tell you, will you never speak of this again?”

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Promise.”

“
It was that Campbell man. The one who got killed.”

_{Chapter 44}

The walk should have taken about fifteen minutes, but I walked slowly. My mind was so occupied with Maggie’s revelation that I never said a word. The Schmidts’ job was to catch swindlers and confidence men. They were experts at fooling people. Had they fooled Captain McAllen?

“
Mr. Dancy?”

I became aware of my surroundings and realized we were standing in front of the barn.

“
Sorry, I was distracted. We’re looking for a piece of paper. It will be wrapped in something to protect it, but it’ll still be delicate, so dig very carefully. Yell out if you find anything.”

“
Where do you want to start?”

“
Inside. Let’s take a look.”

I pulled both doors open and filled the barn with light. The sunlight also cascaded through holes in the roof. The obvious place to dig was under the hayloft that ran down the left side of the structure. It was fairly intact and would provide protection against rain and snow. The floor was hard pack, with no signs of recent digging. If there was any slope, it appeared to go front to back, so I decided we’d start by the door. Maggie took the inside by the wall, and I intended to dig a lane along the centerline of the barn. In less than ten minutes, I hit something very hard about six inches below the surface. At first I thought it was a rock, but after a couple of thrusts using the shovel like a posthole digger, I definitely heard metal against metal.

“
What is it?” Maggie asked.

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Let’s see.” I used the shovel to pry hard-packed dirt away from the object. “It’s a strong box.”

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Darn,” she said.

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Darn?”

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A treasure hunt is supposed to be an adventure. I didn’t even get my dress dirty.”

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Let’s not count our chickens.” I got down on the ground and jerked the box out with both hands. A puff of dust covered the lower part of Maggie’s dress. The box had a small outside lock that came apart with a single strike from the shovel. When I opened it, I said, “You may count the chickens.”

“
What is it?”

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A stock certificate. A real one.” I pulled out the rolled piece of paper and gave it to her to examine.

After a moment, she said, “One thousand shares of Edison Electric Light Company. Why was it buried here?”

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Because Elisha Campbell didn’t want anyone to see that piece of paper. It would ruin his swindles.”

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Is it valuable?”

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Only troublesome.” I always carried a tube of matches to light my pipe, and soon I was holding the burning certificate over the metal box. When my hand got hot, I dropped it and blew on it to keep it burning until there were only ashes left. I should have been ecstatic to dispose of this troubling document, but instead I was worried.